FAMA PERLIS TO CRACK DOWN ON FAKE HARUMANIS SALES FROM MAY

KANGAR, April 16 (Bernama) -- The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) in Perlis has warned that stern action will be taken beginning early May against individuals involved in selling fake Harumanis mangoes in the state.

Its director, Mohd Anzara Azizan, said monitoring efforts have uncovered fraudulent practices, with some sellers passing off imported mangoes, especially those sold online and by roadsides, as the renowned Harumanis variety from Perlis.

“FAMA has been monitoring roadside stalls along main routes from Kuala Perlis to Changlun and inspecting the labels used by sellers. To date, we’ve conducted 14 advocacy activities and issued 61 notices to raise awareness.

“Enforcement action will commence in early May, in collaboration with the Kangar Municipal Council (MPK) and the Perlis branch of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN),” he told a press conference here today.

To detect such scams, FAMA has also been conducting “test purchases” through various online platforms.

“Many scammers are taking advantage of the Harumanis season. In our test buys, we discovered fake mangoes being sold, with offers as low as RM50 for three kilogrammes (kg). This is clearly illogical, as premium-grade Harumanis can fetch up to RM120 per kg.

“This not only causes buyers to lose money but also tarnishes the reputation of Perlis Harumanis,” he said.

To address the issue, FAMA is expanding advocacy efforts in cooperation with the media, certified sellers, and other government agencies to ensure only genuine Harumanis is sold.

The agency has also introduced official “GPL” tags and banners to identify authorised sellers, while encouraging consumers to buy from trusted sources such as Agrobazaar Online or certified retail centres.

“We want all sellers to act responsibly, comply with the law, and avoid exploiting consumers,” Mohd Anzara added.

He also advised the public to exercise caution when purchasing Harumanis - whether online or at physical stalls, by checking the label, price, and verification details to ensure authenticity.

-- BERNAMA